We were told of the BCCN last year in February when Anna was first diagnosed, but for most of the calendar year we were simply trying to survive so we didn't give any thought to the different resources and offerings. We didn't have much time and energy to put into relationships with family and friends, so we didn't have much desire to build any new relationships, either. I think Anna might have even been hospitalized at the time of last year's Superhero Run.
Many families create a team for the event, especially if their child is an honorary superhero. This year we are choosing not to. Perhaps it is selfish, but I just don't want to take on another responsibility right now. Maybe someday. However, please feel free to donate to the cause on their website, whether or not Anna has an actual "team".
Back in May, we were contacted by the BCCN and asked if Anna would like to be recognized this year, since she had a particularly rough time with her cancer and its treatments. When this kind of publicity event occurs, Matt and I discuss the situation before bringing it up with Anna. In her mind, any opportunity to help sick kids is a good thing; she will jump at these chances without giving much thought as to what it may mean for her personally. She could care less about being on TV or having her picture taken; she cares more about having a good time in the moment and making sure an organization like the BCCN can earn more money to help more kids.
The BCCN's motto is "Because kids can't fight cancer alone." Their mission is "to educate, support, serve, and advocate for children with cancer, their families, survivors of childhood cancer and the professionals who care for them". We stand firmly in line with these statements. Anna and the rest us certainly aren't fighting this cancer fight alone. Unfortunately, however, some families do not have the same kind of support networks in place that we had and still have. For many of these families, the BCCN is there to help in times of need. We hope that Anna's story helps the BCCN have a successful Superhero Run for 2015.
The four kids chosen this year all turn 8 within a few months of one another. The two boys are twins; one fought leukemia when he was younger whereas his brother was diagnosed last summer. The other girl struggles with sickle cell anemia.
We met everyone in June during a photoshoot at the zoo. Anna had a good time and Matt did a great job of joking around with her to get some genuine smiles for the photographer's pictures.
Last Monday we headed over to the television studio (after Anna and Matt's dentist appointments in the morning, and Anna's first summer school class mid-day) for the taping of a commercial which will air periodically on NBC15.
Prior to cancer, Anna would not have been the type of kid to shine during an experience like this; just ask her kindergarten teacher if she ever got a good photograph of Anna smiling. Now you take that Anna and throw cancer and all of those nasty treatments into the mix, and she is going to do the opposite of shine. Unfortunately, she was a bit like a deer caught in the headlights, which I'm sure is how she must have felt.
On a positive side, Anna said her line loudly, clearly, and with gusto.
From our perspective, Anna did a pretty darn good job for someone who had the maximum dosage of whole brain radiation allowed for someone her age. That kind of radiation makes new sensory experiences (like all of those lights and cameras pointing right at you) extra difficult to take in.
I was reminded during this brief encounter with others that I never, ever want to make judgements about someone else ... because it makes me so sad when others pass judgement on Anna, especially when they do not know what she has gone through, and especially when she is placed in a challenging situation. Sometimes I wish there were an easier way for the "real" Anna to come through for others to see.
In addition to this publicity for the BCCN, Anna's wish experience is going to be shared in an upcoming Make-A-Wish newsletter. Originally, we requested no publicity, to honor the privacy of our family members. However, after the directors and coordinators at Make-A-Wish read through our summary here on this blog, they asked us specifically if they could share some aspects of Anna's wish. We acquiesced, as long as names and photos of our extended family were not included.
Again, in Anna's mind, any opportunity to help sick kids is a good one.
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